Oakland Park Offered Savings

OAKLAND PARK — The city could save $3.7 million in five years if the Broward Sheriff's Office takes control of police operations, Sheriff Ken Jenne told city commissioners on Thursday.

"Unlike a takeover, it's a true merger," Jenne told commissioners in making his proposal. "The City Council, city manager always retain a lot of control of these contracts."

The pitch offers a five-year contract that would cost the city about $7.7 million for Sheriff's Office police protection. But that's still $750,000 a year less than what the city pays to have the same number of uniformed officers on the street, Jenne said.

Savings to the city would come from the Sheriff's Office economy of scale -- such as lower costs for training and management because of its size -- and from more tightly controlling other expenses such as sick leave.

All city officers would be retained as deputies, and the city would dictate future staffing levels. All law enforcement personnel and emergency dispatch would be absorbed by the Sheriff's Office, including the city's dispatch for the Fire Department. The city would negotiate with the sheriff on whether to retain a communications office in the city or merge it with a communications unit downtown.

Two commissioners, Steve Arnst and Caryl Stevens, have said they will not support a takeover by the Sheriff's Office. The remaining three commissioners said they will review the proposed contract before they decide. The commission will schedule a meeting, including public hearings, before voting on the proposal.

Shauna Jamieson can be reached at sjamieson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4552.